Rules & Regulations

The following rules and regulations are established at Greenhaven Preserve, to support, “Natural”, “Green” or “Conservation” burial. These rules help insure that proper procedures and guidelines for “Natural Burial” are followed so that our habitat continues to provide the wonderful gift of life.

If you would like to review this information offline, you may download the Greenhaven Preserve Rules & Regulations (PDF).

SECTION 1. Definitions:

  1. “Natural” or “Green” or “Conservation” are terms we use to describe the concept of helping preserve and renew our planets precious resources. It is a way to give back life for many generations to come.
  2. “We,” “Our,” “GP” and “Us” refer to Greenhaven Preserve.
  3. “You” or “Your” refers to Burial Space owners and their heirs and assignees. (“You” or “Your” may also refer to visitors where specified.)
  4. “Visitors” refers to anyone (including Burial Space owners, heirs, and assignees) who visits Greenhaven Preserve as part of a funeral party, or simply to walk around and enjoy the property.
  5. A “Burial Space”, is a lot, plot, grave space, grave site intended for the burial of one person.

SECTION 2: Burial

  1. Greenhaven Preserve Burial Spaces shall not be used for any other purpose other than as a burial place for the deceased and are sold in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the State of South Carolina.
  2. Only one person per Burial Space is allowed. Special circumstances, regarding deceased infants, children and pets are considered on an individual basis. We also provide Burial Space for Cremated remains. You may select the burial space of your choice.
  3. Your Burial Space must be paid in full before a deed will be given or burial allowed on any Burial Space.
  4. Burials must be scheduled and you must purchase a Burial Space for the deceased unless the deceased has already purchased one. Information needed:
    1. The name of deceased
    2. Age of deceased including birth date, if known
    3. Place of birth of deceased, if known
    4. Date of death
    5. Time and date of interment needed
    If the deceased is not an adult, you must provide proof that you are the legal guardian and have a right to have the deceased interned. (I.e. parent or legal guardian, court order)
  5. Each Burial Space in the cemetery will be mapped and a GPS or GIS location (latitude & longitude) for the center of that Space and shall be recorded at time of interment. This location information shall provide the permanent location of the deceased for the family and municipalities.

SECTION 3: Visitors

  1. Visitors may visit Greenhaven Preserve during daylight hours, observing our rules and the propriety due to us. Pets are allowed, but must be on a leash, under your control at all times and you are responsible to pick up after them. Loud vehicles, except for trucks and equipment necessary for our operation, must park in designated parking areas or are prohibited.

SECTION 4: Space sales and transfer

  1. When a married or partnered couple purchases two Burial Spaces, Greenhaven Preserve will assign each space by deed to each member of the couple, as the owner. When an individual, family or group purchases more than two Spaces, Greenhaven Preserve will assign one Space to each individual identified by the purchaser(s). Purchasers of many or multiple Burial Spaces will be accommodated with regards to the needs that apply.
  2. If you decide you want to sell your Burial Space, we may buy it back or you may sell to another party. You must pay the then specified administrative fee for transfer of ownership.
  3. You may transfer your Burial Space to another person, but please see items (6) and/or (8). If you purchase a Burial Space for yourself but, upon death, are buried elsewhere, then your Burial Space passes to those named in your will. If none are named, it passes to your descendants or to your surviving spouse. If you inherit burial rights, you must let us know, provide proof and pay the administrative fee for transfer.
  4. You are prohibited from allowing someone to inter a body on your Burial Space in exchange for money, goods, or services.

SECTION 5: Funerals

  1. Funerals must be completed at Greenhaven Preserve by one hour (1hr) before dusk, so that we have sufficient time to properly close the grave and remove the equipment before darkness. Funeral parties may help close the grave if they wish.
  2. All funerals, processions and vehicles will be under the control of management while in Greenhaven Preserve. Discharging firearms is only permitted at military funerals and prohibited at other times.
  3. We are open for burial seven days a week unless severe weather conditions preclude burial on any given day. We are closed on New Years Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Easter and Christmas.

SECTION 6: Interment and Disinterment

  1. No vaults or grave liners of any kind are permitted at Greenhaven Preserve.
  2. Bodies or cremains may be interred only in natural biodegradable materials such as, but not limited to, wood or a shroud. Ask us or your funeral director for guidance. Metal, concrete, plastic, or other synthetic materials and stone may not be used for interment at Greenhaven Preserve.
  3. Deceased bodies that are embalmed or otherwise chemically preserved may only be interred at Greenhaven Preserve in designated areas, unless “special circumstances” are approved it in writing.
  4. Due to the nature of the “Natural”, “Green” or “Conservative” concept, once a body is interred, it cannot be disinterred by anyone without a Court Order, or other Legal order issued by the State or Federal Authority. Any disinterment must be handled by Greenhaven Preserve and special charges for this will apply.

SECTION 7: Markers, Flowers and Ornaments

  1. Any Burial Space (graveside) flowers left during any interment shall be removed within seven days of interment. We reserve the right to remove all flowers, wreaths, or decorations without notice, due to ecological or animal related concerns. Ceramic, glass vases or blocks (as receptacles for flowers) and artificial flowers and other decorations may not be placed on Burial Spaces. Think “natural”.
  2. You may not place embellishments or effigies (for example, statuettes) on gravesites. We reserve the right to remove any embellishment on the Burial Space, or effigy or inscription without notice.
  3. No polished markers or monuments of any kind are permitted. You may have engraved natural, flat rocks, granite, or other stones indigenous to our area, set flush with the ground and encompassing no more than 400 square inches (800 for doubles), (max. 2" thick) placed as markers at the grave.

SECTION 8: Grave Maintenance

  1. Greenhaven Preserve, its parties and assigns shall have sole discretion as to all matters regarding landscaping and plantings, including landscaping plan and care, pruning, re-vegetation, and removal of vegetation. No unauthorized plantings or hedges, fences or enclosures of any kind are permitted on or around Burial Spaces (except where agreed upon to conform to religious practice). We may remove or alter unauthorized plantings or enclosures without notice. Remember, natural habitat.
  2. Graves may take several years to settle back to the original ground level. Note that sometimes graves settle unevenly, even from one day to the next. This is a natural occurrence and part of the Natural Burial concept. Burial Spaces are not kept, trimmed, planted or otherwise maintained in any way by Greenhaven Preserve as our concept provides for the land to return to its Natural State. Greenhaven Preserve must approve anything taking place on any Burial Space.

SECTION 9: Site Maintenance

  1. Our workers and contractors may enter or cross over any Burial Space at Greenhaven Preserve to perform normal cemetery operations.
  2. Trails and lanes (and the visitors and staff who walk on them, or the equipment driven on them) may traverse a corner of your Burial Space, though no trail or lane will traverse the site of your actual burial.
  3. All work done at Greenhaven Preserve, including but not limited to landscaping and care of Burial Spaces, Shall be done by Greenhaven Preserve employees or under the control and with the permission of our superintendent or management.

SECTION 10: Management

  1. Greenhaven Preserve and its trustees, officers, employees and agents assume no liability for damage, mental anguish, or loss caused by vandalism or other acts beyond its reasonable control.
  2. These rules and regulations may be amended by the Management of Greenhaven Preserve, as necessary, but shall be in keeping with its concept of Natural and Green burial as the guide.